New Biz Oly: The Food Nook at Fertile Ground

Introducing you to new locally-owned businesses…

Devin Smith often came to Fertile Ground to do work/trade at the iconic guest house and gardens across from the downtown library: weeding, planting, watering. “A friend is a site docent here, so I was around a lot. I fell in love with the gardens and the whole sustainable idea. After working, I would get goodies to take home in return,” Devin smiles, “or I would have a great home cooked meal made by someone here. It did me a great deal of good!”

When Fertile Ground’s Gail Sullivan decided to open a food store in the garden, she asked Devin to manage it, and he jumped at the chance. They planned for five weeks, and opened the charming Food Nook in a converted garden shed at the beginning of April. It nestles among trees, flowers, flagstones, and potted plants, which are for sale, next to the Eco-House on Adams St., its wooden awning overarched by a bright lawn umbrella and an open counter at which Devin presides.

“We are training site docents and volunteers here at Fertile Ground,” Devin says, “so volunteers run shifts at the stand, too. We can sell only certified, pre-packaged goods, nothing warmed, so we’re a grab-and-go, although you are welcome to stay and eat what you buy at these great picnic benches and tables, hand-hewn from trees on the property.”

Recent spring rain glistens in the trees where birds sing and flutter. Even wet, the scene is inviting and absolutely lovely.

Devin says, “Everything we sell here is locally produced. We’ve got baked goods including loaves of bread from Eight Arms Bakery, Magic Kombucha Fermented Tea, MelO’Soups, Jalisco Chips and Salsas, and the cheapest prices for OlyKraut in town. Exquisite N Traditional brings us Middle Eastern foods like hummus, falafel, babaghannouj, baklava, and cornmeal with dates MaMoul. We sell Tierra Bonita Garlic Sauces, goat cheese from Steamboat Island Goat Farm, and soon we will have eggs from The Egg Lady. We’ve got coffees and teas, too.”

“It’s a great location,” Devin adds, “close to downtown and the library, with lots of foot traffic including state workers and local characters who come along. Seventy percent of the people who come by have never really noticed the garden before, so the Nook causes them to stop, and they buy. Soon we will have a tamale truck parked near the entrance where people can get hot lunches, probably open by June. It’s going to be an even more lunch-brunch atmosphere, so people can enjoy that.”

Those interested in volunteering are welcome to show up on Wednesdays for the regular work parties from 11 AM to 2 PM. Devin, or maybe someone else, will show you around. There are volunteer trainings all the time.

Hours 10AM – 3PM

911 ½ Adams Street

new-biz-oly is written by Holly Graham. To suggest a new locally-owned business to be featured, please email .